Restaurant News Bites: Restaurant 'Week' Is Almost Here; New Eats at the Crazy Coconut; and More!

Some chefs you probably recognize pose with Restaurant Week's "Moving Marilyn," who has been making appearances at participating restaurants throughout May.Palm Springs Desert Resorts Restaurant Week Facebook

On Wednesday, May 29, and Thursday, May 30, a variety of Restaurant Week participants are participating in “Uncorked,” a series of 16 special dinners pairing multi-course meals with delicious alcoholic beverages. Just a few examples: On Wednesday, the Ace Hotel’s Kings Highway will, so say the people at Ace, “feature some of the freshest farm to table entrées complimented by some darn incredible craft beer from around the country” for $65; meanwhile, Las Casuelas Terraza will offer four courses, each paired with tequila, for $45. On Thursday, Pinzimini at the Westin Mission Hills will meld Italian creations with Italian wines and the house-made limoncello for $85.

Of course, reservations for all of these “Uncorked” meals are strongly suggested.

For the 17 days of Restaurant Week proper, participating restaurants—more than 80 of them, all across the valley—will offer three-course meals for $26 or $38. Some of these deals are amazing: When else could you get a three-course meal at, say, Mastro’s Steakhouse for $38?!

Two weeks ago in this space, we reported that Thai Smile Palm Springs, the popular restaurant currently at 651 N. Palm Canyon Drive, would soon be taking over the old La Casita spot at 100 S. Indian Canyon Drive.

We now have more details on what’s going on: Restaurant spokesman Chari Godakanda tells us that Thai Smile will be vacating the Palm Canyon Drive space, but only when the new location is ready—a process he hopes will take about two more months.

Godakanda says Thai Smile outgrew the Palm Canyon Drive building, and the new, larger space will allow more seating—and a larger, more efficient kitchen will help the staff better handle busy periods for both dine-in and takeout customers.

Crazy Coconut Expands Offerings

The Crazy Coconut Bar and Grill, located at 166 N. Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs, is known for its popular karaoke nights—in fact, there are times when screeching voices emanating from the Crazy Coconut patio can be heard blocks away.

However, Bryan Gallyot and his team at the Crazy Coconut also want the restaurant to be known for its burgers. In fact, they claim that their burgers are the best in town—a big boast, considering the existence of great burger places like Tyler’s, Woody’s and Grind—all of which are within a few blocks of the Crazy Coconut.

I recently stopped in to check out the burgers for myself and the “Ol’ Bleu,” a half-pound burger topped with bacon, jalapeno slices and blue cheese ($10.95, including hand-cut fries). While I am not prepared to declare the Crazy Coconut’s burgers as the town’s best, I will say this: That was one damned tasty burger.

Get more info at www.crazycoconutbar.com. (Warning: The webpage blares Journey’s “Any Way You Want It” for no good reason.)

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